EDITOR’S WELCOME Greg Cannizzo, DDS, CDE, JAOS Editor 3617 Municipal Drive, McHenry, IL 60050 Phone: (815) 344-2282 • Fax: (815) 344-5815 • Email: drgrc@joltmail.com ASSOCIATION STAFF Adam Griswold AGpO Executive Director Academy of Gp Orthodontics 509 E. Boydston St. Rockwall, TX 75087-3956 (800) 634-2027 E-mail: agriswold@academygportho.com Nate Porter AOS Executive Director American Orthodontic Society 2451 West Grapevine Mills Circle Suite 510 Grapevine, TX 76051 E-mail: support@orthodontics.com Who’s Your Pacesetter? Mentorship, Motivation & Momentum in Orthodontics In the world of endurance sports, a pacesetter is someone who sets the rhythm, keeps the tempo, and quietly chal-lenges others to move forward with inten-tion. Cyclists and runners often look to the racer just ahead of them—not to compete, but to calibrate their own performance. The idea of striving toward someone just ahead of you—someone who sets the bar for excellence—is equally relevant in your dental practice, especially when you offer orthodontics. Musicians, athletes, scientists, and even Michelin-starred chefs often reference mentors or industry leaders who have shaped their trajectory. They credit their progress to influencers whose dedication and excellence lit the way forward. In dentistry, especially in orthodontics, our mentors and role models are the clinical leaders, educators, and colleagues who challenge us to refine our technique, expand our thinking, and brace ourselves for growth. The Power of a Professional Pacesetter As dental professionals, we are constantly learning, adapting to new tech-nologies, refining treatment plans, and staying updated on the latest research and case studies. Having a pacesetter in your professional life—a mentor or respected peer who exemplifies clinical excellence— not only motivates you to elevate your standards but also helps cement your goals. Pacesetters demonstrate what is possible with vision, dedication, and a commit-ment to lifelong learning. Mentorship: More Than Guidance Mentorship is not just about knowl-edge transfer; it's about connection and transformation. The best mentors help us fill the gaps in our skillsets, provide honest feedback, and model the kind of leadership and professionalism we aspire to embody. They don’t just offer answers, they ask the right questions, challenge our assumptions, and encourage us to think beyond the immediate case to the bigger picture of patient-centered care. In orthodontics, this kind of guidance is invaluable. Whether you're working through a complex case, navigating practice management hurdles, or looking to grow your leadership within the profession, having a mentor can keep you aligned and in occlusion with your highest potential. A Community That Elevates Our upcoming AOS Annual Meeting this fall offers a unique opportunity to engage with those leading the way in our field. It is more than a gathering; it is a celebration of our shared commitment to excellence in orthodontics. Through presentations, workshops, and network-ing events, you’ll meet colleagues who not only share your passion but are also eager to support your advancement. Our board members, instructors, and longstanding members are more than speakers or participants—they are advo-cates for your growth. They are the pace-setters, mentors, and encouragers who show us what’s possible when we commit to improving together. Our annual meet-ing is a place where the spirit of mentor-ship is alive and well, not just flossed over in a few formal sessions. Your Call to Action As our Fall Annual Meeting approaches, ask yourself the following questions: • Who is your pacesetter? • Who challenges you to keep learn-ing, refining, and advancing? • Who do you watch and think, “If I just keep going, I might catch up”? Equally important, ask yourself who you are mentoring. In the rhythm of professional life, we are all sometimes the pacesetter and sometimes the one who needs to pick up the pace. If you haven’t yet found someone who inspires you, let the AOS Fall Annual Meeting be your starting line. Surround yourself with clinicians, educators, and leaders who are passionate about lifting others. Bring your questions, your chal-lenges, and your goals. We promise you’ll leave with a renewed sense of purpose to sink your teeth into , clear direction, and maybe even a few new mentors. Together, we rise. Together, we grow. And together, we set the pace for the future of Gp and pediatric orthodontics. EDITORIAL STAFF Greg Cannizzo, DDS ............. AGpO/AOS Editor Shea Gibbs ............................... AOS/AGpO Managing Editor Email: shea@gibbscom.com EDITORIAL REVIEW BOARD Robert Allen, DDS.................................AGpO Ron Austin, DDS...................................AGpO Chris Baker, RN, DMD .............................AOS Kauser Bari, DDS ...................................AGpO Jeff Dahm, DDS........................................AOS Fred Der, DDS .......................................AGpO Elsa Echeverri, DDS..................................AOS Drew Ellenwood, DDS ..........................AGpO Debra Ettle-Resnick, DDS.........................AOS Twana Farley-Duncan, DDS.....................AOS Scott Earp, DDS.....................................AGpO Bernadino Elizondo, DDS ........................AOS Andrey Horton, DDS................................AOS Thomas Jacobsen, DDS.........................AGpO Gregory T. Jeneary, DDS ..........................AOS Amanda Larsh, DMD ............................AGpO Brian Machart, DDS..............................AGpO Kyle McCrea, DDS ................................AGpO Sherman Menser, DDS..........................AGpO Randy Newby, DDS..................................AOS Nemeen El Gammal, DDS ....................AGpO Milton Ntragatakis, DDS.......................AGpO Humberto Nunez-Gil, DMD .................AGpO Ann Mary Orr, DDS .................................AOS Jennifer Rand, DDS...............................AGpO Raphael Santore, DDS...........................AGpO Joseph R. Schmidbauer, DDS ...................AOS Gary Schulman, DDS ...............................AOS Coty Shores, DDS..................................AGpO Kimberly Suter, DDS ................................AOS Susan Tiede, DDS .....................................AOS Walter Tippen, DDS ..............................AGpO Jose E. Turcios, DDS .................................AOS Saskia Vaughn, DDS.................................AOS Bradford R. Williams, DDS ......................AOS William Wyatt, Sr., DDS ..........................AOS 4 Spring 2025 JAOS
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society Spring 2025: Page 4
